dham629

I had the chance to see this film at the Austin Film Festival, followed by a QA with the writer/director Jeff Nichols. Having already been familiar with this story from the made for television movie in 1996 starring Timothy Hutton and Lela Rochon as Richard and Mildred Loving. Many would ask why now or why remake this film? Well many people are simply unaware of this couple's story and their groundbreaking supreme court case, because it's certainly not mentioned or taught in public schools. So was the case for the writer/director, as mentioned he was not aware of their story. He carefully followed the documentary and archived records about them, while imagining what their conversations and dialogue would have been like between them. I found the landscape of the cinematography beautiful and breathtaking. The acting chemistry between Ruth Negga and Joel Edgarton was so tender and sincere, as you witness their love and vulnerabilities on screen, it makes you love the Lovings. Ruth Negga really shines as the quiet young woman who becomes the matriarch and leader of her family after watching the march on Washington DC, she decides to write a letter to then Attorney General Robert Kennedy. You see the transformation of two introverted people during the civil rights era become activists for change in their own way that is very powerful in this film. Historically many of the biracial descendants of this country's slave owning founding fathers never benefited from the wealth and privilege of the white ancestors. That is part of what what made their case was so monumental, in that it reversed segregationist slave laws that considered biracial children mongrel bastards and prohibited the rights of marriage and inheritance of interracial couples.

I had a chance to screen this film in Miami at the American Black Film Fest this past June. It was hilariously entertaining that struck the right cords with the audience. I was not familiar with any of the actors work prior to this film. All of which did a great job. Rob Morgan as the villain Lomatic, stole the show paired with Solvan Naim's humor stole the show. Even more remarkable was how well the film was written & directed by first time film maker and leading actor, just in his early 20s. I look forward to seeing future projects from this young man he's very talented. I screen a watch a lot of films from independent low bud to major studio works, so for what this film was and having insight on the background of this film from the film maker's Q&A. I was impressed and thought it was great.